the story of Lincoln

I found out on Thursday that I was going to be induced the next day. I was so nervous. I was told to call the hospital at 5 am to find out what time I was supposed to check in. I was so paranoid about not waking up that I hardly got any sleep. The hospital told me to check in at 7. At 6:40 we dropped a very groggy Molly and Gabe off at a friends house and then headed for the hospital. By 9:30 I was checked in, hooked up to everything and my nurse was starting the pitocin. After a couple hours of that I was ready for an epidural. However the nurse didn't agree so she said she could give my some pain medication through my iv. That was a nightmare. I felt like I was going to die. After the medication wore off my water broke and the nurse said that I was dilated to a 4 so I could have an epidural. The anesthesiologist came and worked his magic at 12:30. By 1:15 I was fully dilated. I pushed through 2 contractions and our little 5lb 15oz boy was welcomed into the world at 1:24. About an hour later we gave him a name. Lincoln Edward. (I had wanted to name Gabe, Lincoln. Lincoln had always been a front runner, but there was one other name that I couldn't get out of my head...)

Looking back I'm still not sure how I feel about being induced. Thankfully Lincoln came fast. I was worried that I'd be in labor all day. I still think that my best experience all around was having Gabe. Although it was nice being able to plan ahead a little.

Right after I was brought to my recovery room a nurse came in to take our vitals. Lincoln was cold. She said that she was going to put him under a heat lamp in the nursery. She said she'd bring him back in a little while. That couldn't have been farther from the truth. A few hours later the pediatrician came in and said that Lincoln had stopped breathing a few times. He told me not to worry he wanted to take a few x-rays and monitor Lincoln in the NICU. ok. The x-rays came back perfect and his breathing wasn't labored. The doctor wanted to keep Lincoln in the NICU to make sure that Lincoln's little body could keep his temperature where it needed to be. After day of holding a normal body temp I thought he would be released. But Lincoln was a VERY sleepy baby in the hospital and wasn't interested in eating. The doctor wanted to keep him in the NICU to monitor how much he was eating and how long it was taking him. To make a long story not too much longer :) I was so happy when we got to leave the hospital together Sunday afternoon.

Lincoln in the NICU.

(He was hooked up to a bunch of machines it was so frustrating. Every time I picked him up some kind of alarm would sound. While the whole experience was frustrating I'm so happy that there were no serious problems.)

Welcome home! Molly and Gabe are in love. They want to "pet" and hold him all the time. If Lincoln sequels both of them come running with pacifiers. hanging out with dad The hat fit! But only for a couple of days. If you're thinking about making one and you don't have little babies you should make it a bit bigger.

so BIG

As of today this little man is 1 week.

And Molly turned 4!
Molly wanted a "Darbie" (not really sure why she calls Barbie Darbie, but it works) cake. Last summer her friend Penny had a barbie birthday cake. It must have made an impression.

make a wish

and open the presents.

Molly is such a delightful girl. She's very even tempered and mild mannered. I've always thought of her as an old soul. She has always been very understanding and curious about everything around her. She is shy. When she gets nervous she plays with her hair. She's a great big sister and helper. She loves puzzles, her bike, dolls, princesses and all things fancy and pink.

Happy Birthday Molly!

we love you ;)

Lincoln Edward Wilkerson

Welcome to our newest edition. We got to have him two weeks early. 5lbs 15oz and 19 in. Mom is doing great. Lincoln is breathing heavy, so is being watched over night. Doctors say we shouldn't be concerned, they just want to monitor is breathing and take xrays to see if there is fliud in there.

A very tired, but happy mom

A very happy Dad

Big Sister Molly

Big Brother Gabe

ready or not

Today when I was weighed at the doctors office the scale said I had lost a pound from last week. Amazing. When I'm pregnant I only gain mass amounts of weight I've never lost any. But my blood pressure is high. (Usually my bp is low, but the past two weeks it has been getting higher. I think I'm still in the "normal" range, but higher than I should be.) I wasn't nervous until the doctor said she'd like to induce me tomorrow. Ready or not here we go.

Don't you love the funky shadow behind me? Oh well.

38 weeks

Finding out that the baby will be making his grand appearance tomorrow helped give me the motivation to put away all the laundry I washed Monday. Yay for not having multiple baskets of laundry in every bedroom. It also gave me the motivation to finish this little hat. I'm hoping it fits him. It's tiny. If not I guess it will go to one of Molly's dolls. I think it looks cute on bathtub.

I found the pattern for the hat here, it was really easy to follow. I did add some 1/2 dc in there for more texture.

36 weeks

Last week I was measuring small so my Dr wanted me to have an ultra sound. I LOVE the ultrasound tech. She is this adorable middle aged woman with a slight southern accent. Anyway, I walked in and she asked what we were having. I said a boy, hopefully it's still a boy. She then said that she's never seen one fall off. I suppose that's true. (I've known 2 people who were told they were having girls and surprise they had boys.) Anyway right when she started the ultra sound she said very excitedly it's still a boy. Look at that his daddy would be proud. I couldn't help laughing. Our little boy reminds me of a snapping turtle. The whole ultra sound his mouth was wide open biting/sucking on his hands and feet. Now at least I know what he's doing when I feel like he's trying to bust out. As of last week he was 5lbs 5oz. If he comes on my due date and he gains 1/2 a pound a week he'll be my biggest baby (a little over 7lbs). I'm hoping he comes sooner than later. Everyone keeps asking how I'm feeling. S.l.o.w. tired and BIG. I'm ready for this little guy to come. January 31st I started having contractions. Go to the hospital kind of contractions. Luckily they stopped after about 40 min. But it gave me the motivation to finish washing and putting all the baby stuff away. I kind of have the feeling that because I am ready he's going to be late....

2 is better than 1

We've been talking for a while about using our tax return to buy a car. The day came. Last Friday morning our tax return was deposited. Later that afternoon Drew went out to "look" at a car. A few hours later he came home with a little Hyundai Accent, or as Molly calls it "the little van". It's so nice not having to share. It's also nice that the little van gets great gas mileage.

Be Mine